An Introduction An Introduction to to

Canadian Canadian IdentityIdentity

Social Heroes, Visual Social Heroes, Visual Arts, Literature, Arts, Literature,

Performing Arts, Sports Performing Arts, Sports and Musicand Music

Background InformationBackground Information► Canada's culture - influenced by Canada's culture - influenced by

European culture and traditions, European culture and traditions, especially British and French especially British and French

► A country A country composed mainly of mainly of immigrantsimmigrants Themes and and Symbols: : pioneers, , trappers, ,

and and traders► Official symbols Official symbols –– maple leaf, beaver, maple leaf, beaver,

aandnd the Canadian horse the Canadian horse Jacques Viger (first mayor of Montreal): Jacques Viger (first mayor of Montreal):

"the king of our forest; ... the symbol of "the king of our forest; ... the symbol of the Canadian people." the Canadian people."

Louis XIV: sent horses to Canada (late Louis XIV: sent horses to Canada (late 17th century)17th century)

► in connection with images of red-coated in connection with images of red-coated MountiesMounties

Background Information Background Information

►Ethnic groups: Anglophone 28%, groups: Anglophone 28%, Francophone 23%, other European Francophone 23%, other European 15%, Asian/Arab/African 6%, 15%, Asian/Arab/African 6%, indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed background 26%background 26%

►Languages: English, FrenchLanguages: English, French►"Canada" comes from the Huron and "Canada" comes from the Huron and

Iroquois word "Kanata" meaning Iroquois word "Kanata" meaning "village" "village"

Nationalizing Diversity Nationalizing Diversity

In 1971, an official policy of multiculturalismIn 1971, an official policy of multiculturalism was introduced by Prime Minister Trudeau. was introduced by Prime Minister Trudeau. The policy wouldThe policy would......““support and encourage support and encourage the various cultures and ethnic groups that the various cultures and ethnic groups that give structure and vitality to our society. give structure and vitality to our society. They will be encouraged to share their They will be encouraged to share their cultural expressions and values with other cultural expressions and values with other Canadians and so contribute to a richer life Canadians and so contribute to a richer life for us all.for us all.”” –House of Commons (Cranny –House of Commons (Cranny and Moles 2001, p. 204-205)and Moles 2001, p. 204-205)

Defining Canadian Defining Canadian IdentityIdentity

► Landscape features and climateLandscape features and climate► Community, province, and regionCommunity, province, and region► Language, culture, and ethnic Language, culture, and ethnic

backgroundbackground► HistoryHistory► Friends, leaders, politicians, and heroesFriends, leaders, politicians, and heroes► Type of governmentType of government► OpportunitiesOpportunities

Canada is so large and its people are so diverse that it is not always easy to define Canada’s identity. There are many factors that influence the concept of national identity.

Some of our Social Some of our Social Heroes:Heroes:Terry FoxTerry Fox

Norman Bethune – “China’s Norman Bethune – “China’s Canadian Hero”Canadian Hero”

Tommy PrinceTommy Prince

Nellie McClungNellie McClung

Artists Reflect Canadian Artists Reflect Canadian IdentityIdentity

► West Coast peoples use wood to make masks and totem West Coast peoples use wood to make masks and totem poles.poles.

► Inuit carve stone, antler, and bone.Inuit carve stone, antler, and bone.► The Innu do beadwork and use painted patterns to decorate The Innu do beadwork and use painted patterns to decorate

clothing.clothing.► The Anishinabe make petroforms, boulders that are arranged The Anishinabe make petroforms, boulders that are arranged

on the ground. on the ground. ► Mi’kmaq peoples paint and embroider on birchbark.Mi’kmaq peoples paint and embroider on birchbark.► Maliseet peoples are skilled porcupine quillworkers. Maliseet peoples are skilled porcupine quillworkers.

First Nations and Inuit

They use a variety of art forms (or media) to represent various aspects of their culture and beliefs. Some are traditional, and some are modern.

First Nations and Inuit First Nations and Inuit ArtArt

InukshukInukshuk

► The Inukshuk is the symbol of the Canadian Arctic. It The Inukshuk is the symbol of the Canadian Arctic. It is a stone structure Inuit built to resemble a human. is a stone structure Inuit built to resemble a human. They were messages used for other travellers, for They were messages used for other travellers, for marking good hunting or fishing spots, and for marking good hunting or fishing spots, and for showing where supplies of food were stored.showing where supplies of food were stored. They They have become popular symbols throughout Canada. have become popular symbols throughout Canada.

Historica Minutes

New France

During the 1500s and 1600s, priests were sent to Canada from France to paint primarily churches. The paintings were used to beautify the churches and to spread the message of Christianity.

British North America

During the 1700s, citizens would pay artists to paint pictures of their families or themselves.

Military officers were trained to do topographic drawings – drawings that showed the landscape features. The army wanted to know the geographic details of the land to help it make its military plans.

They are often called documentary paintings.

Canada’s Natural Beauty

Many paintings were created just because of the sheer natural beauty of our landscape.

Other times, artists captured the life of the people who lived and worked here.

Frances Ann Hopkins, circa 1869

“The Voyageurs during the Fur Trade”

“A Meeting of the School Trustees” Robert Harris, 1885

Historica Minute

New People, New Paintings

As more immigrants came to Canada during the 1800’s, new artists emerged. They painted landscape as well as people.

“The Habitat’s Home” by Cornelius Krieghoff, 1870

“View of Sillery from the Plains of Abraham” by Joseph-Charles Franchère, 1895

“A Summer Morning” by William Brymner, 1888

Into the Twentieth Century

In the early 1900’s, Canadians’ sense of pride and devotion to their country was strong.

A group of artists named “The Group of Seven” became very popular for their distinctive way of painting Canada’s landscapes. These artists became world famous.

The original group was: A.Y. Jackson, Fred Varley, Lawren Harris, Barker Firley, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. MacDonald.

Tom Thompson joined the small circle but died before the group was formally organized.

“Falls, Montreal River”, 1920 JEH MacDonald “Above Lake Superior”, 1922, L. Harris

“Red Maple”, 1914, AY Jackson “The Guides Home, Algonquin”, 1914, A.Lismer

Modern Canadian Artists

Modern artists from the late 1900s into 2000 are painters, sculptors, architects, and other visual artists.

They include: Emily Carr

Maud Lewis Shawn Skier

Alan Syliboy Douglas Cardinal

Denise Comeau Jack Humphrey

Shirley Bear Alex Colville

Kenojuak Ashevak

Douglas Cardinal

Museum of Civilization, Hull

The Crowned Woman by Shawn Skeir

Alan Syliboy

Jack Humphrey

Kenojuak Ashevak

Emily Carr Historica Minute

Shirley Bear

Alex Colville

Writers Reflect Canadian Writers Reflect Canadian IdentityIdentity

Canadian literature covers all literary genres as writers tell stories, recount events, persuade, explain, report, and describe.

Children’s Literature

Ernest Thompson SetonErnest Thompson Seton

Famous and respected Canadian artist, naturalist and author

Seton helped create the distinct Canadian literary genre: the realistic animal story. He spent his boyhood in Ontario, graduated from the Ontario College of Arts in 1879 and then studied at the Royal Academy in England.

He studied art in Paris and was soon in demand as an illustrator. His most famous painting, The Sleeping Wolf, won first prize at the annual competition held at the Paris Salon.

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/ernest-thompson-seton

Ballads

Ballads are a popular poetic form of narrative writing used to tell a story. They are often based on true events but the truth is stretched to make it more interesting. Many ballads have become songs.

Modern Storytelling

Writers often include their own personal experiences and beliefs into their writing. They can be politically charged, emotional, or persuasive.

The Cremation of Sam McGee

Reach out & Touch by Maxine TynesBaby girl, baby boy behind me on the bus

Reach out

And touch the curly electric of my hair

Your fingers dipped in the

Brown skin magic of my neck

To see if it comes off

Your mama

Slapping hands away

Hush-up of your questions

And wondering outloud why it doesn’t come off

I turn and smile for you

But you’re already lost

In the silence and the fear that motherlove wraps you in

I should have sat beside you

Snugged my big warm self up close

Held you while your mama juggled parcels

Then you would know it’s OK

Musicians Reflect Canadian Musicians Reflect Canadian IdentityIdentity

The identity of a nation and its culture is often expressed through the music and lyrical content that its people produce. There are many proud Canadian musicians. Some of these artists have strong Canadian content within their songs that express Canadian identity. Other musicians have music that is more generic.

Genre refers to the “type” of music. There are many genres of music. How many more can you name?

Rock Rap Country Pop Classical Jazz R&B

Canadian Canadian MusiciansMusicians

Glenn GouldGlenn Gould

Oscar PetersonOscar Peterson

Lenny BreauLenny Breau

The CRTCThe CRTC

► It stands for the Canadian Radio-Television It stands for the Canadian Radio-Television Communications Commission Communications Commission

► Over the years, many Canadian singer/songwriters Over the years, many Canadian singer/songwriters felt they had to leave Canada to be successful.felt they had to leave Canada to be successful.

► As early as 1929, the Canadian government felt As early as 1929, the Canadian government felt that Canadian radio stations should contain that Canadian radio stations should contain Canadian content. Canadian content.

► In 1958, the federal government passed the In 1958, the federal government passed the Broadcasting Act-which was meant to ensure that Broadcasting Act-which was meant to ensure that Canadian radio was “basically Canadian in content Canadian radio was “basically Canadian in content and character”.and character”.

► In 1968, this Act was expanded to include In 1968, this Act was expanded to include television and cable TV. television and cable TV.

The CRTCThe CRTC

►Basically, the CRTC is designed to Basically, the CRTC is designed to protect and promote Canadian culture, protect and promote Canadian culture, and to ensure that Canadians are and to ensure that Canadians are offered information and entertainment offered information and entertainment from a Canadian point of view.from a Canadian point of view.

►This means that radio and television This means that radio and television stations have to devote a specific stations have to devote a specific amount of time each day to Canadian amount of time each day to Canadian performers. performers.

Song SelectionsSong SelectionsWheat Kings LyricsArtist: The Tragically HipAlbum: Fully Completely

sundown in the paris of the prairies wheat kings have all their treasures buried and all you hear are the rusty breezes pushingaround the weather vane jesus

in his zippo lighter, he sees the killer's face maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place twenty years for nothing, well that'snothing new, besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do wheat kings and pretty things, let's just see what themorning brings

there's a dream where the high school is dead and stark tt's a museum and we're all locked up in it after dark where the wallsare lined all yellow, grey and sinister hung with pictures of our parents' prime ministers wheat kings and pretty things, wait andsee what tomorrow brings

late-breaking story on the cbc, a nation whispers, "we always knew that he'd go free" yhey add, "you can't be fond of living inthe past, cause if you are then there's no way that you're gonna last" wheat kings and pretty things let's just see what tomorrowbrings wheat kings and pretty things, that's what tomorrow brings

David Milgaard

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on downOf the big lake they call Gitche GumeeThe lake, it is said, never gives up her deadWhen the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed emptyThat good ship and true was a bone to be chewedWhen the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American sideComing back from some mill in WisconsonAs the big freighters go it was bigger than mostWith a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firmsWhen they left fully loaded for ClevelandAnd later that night when the ships bell rangCould it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale soundAnd a wave broke over the railingAnd every man knew, as the Captain did, too,T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to waitWhen the gales of November came slashingWhen afternoon came it was freezing rainIn the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deckSaying fellows it's too rough to feed yaAt 7PM a main hatchway caved inHe said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming inAnd the good ship and crew was in perilAnd later that night when his lights went out of sightCame the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goesWhen the words turn the minutes to hoursThe searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish BayIf they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsizedThey may have broke deep and took waterAnd all that remains is the faces and the namesOf the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior singsIn the ruins of her ice water mansionOld Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake OntarioTakes in what Lake Erie can send herAnd the iron boats go as the mariners all knowWith the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayedIn the Maritime Sailors' CathedralThe church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 timesFor each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on downOf the big lake they call Gitche GumeeSuperior, they say, never gives up her deadWhen the gales of November come early.

SS Edmund Fitzgerald

The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald

By Gordon Lightfoot

►Performing Artists reflect Canadian Performing Artists reflect Canadian IdentityIdentity

While music tends to dominate, While music tends to dominate, Canadians use many other forms of Canadians use many other forms of artistic expression to talk about artistic expression to talk about themselves and their country.themselves and their country.

Canada is full of actors, both stage and Canada is full of actors, both stage and screen, dancers, comedians, and screen, dancers, comedians, and spoken word performers.spoken word performers.

►Canada has produced some of the best Canada has produced some of the best comedic actors of the 80’s and 90’s, comedic actors of the 80’s and 90’s, including :including :

►However, many Canadian actors move However, many Canadian actors move to the United States to produce and to the United States to produce and star in movies.star in movies.

►Luckily there is a growing Canadian Luckily there is a growing Canadian film industry here at home producing film industry here at home producing some excellent films.some excellent films.

►Canada is also home to many Canada is also home to many comedians, both stand up and sketch.comedians, both stand up and sketch.

►Second City Toronto was one of the Second City Toronto was one of the most popular improv. / sketch troupes most popular improv. / sketch troupes of its time.of its time.

►CODCO and Kids in the Hall were long and Kids in the Hall were long running sketch shows on CBC.running sketch shows on CBC.

►Picnicface is a new comedy troupe Picnicface is a new comedy troupe based in Halifax.based in Halifax.

►Popular stand up comedians includePopular stand up comedians include

►Gerry DeeGerry Dee

►Russell PetersRussell Peters

►Mary Walsh Mary Walsh

►Rick MercerRick Mercer

►Although there are many others, both Although there are many others, both present and past.present and past. Dan AckroydDan Ackroyd Jon WingJon Wing Bowser and BlueBowser and Blue Sean CullenSean Cullen Tom Green Tom Green Howie MandelHowie Mandel Ron JamesRon James

►Other types of performing arts include:Other types of performing arts include: Live theatreLive theatre DanceDance

►ModernModern►BalletBallet►JazzJazz

There are also many Canadians who work in There are also many Canadians who work in design and directing who are not front and design and directing who are not front and centre, but who have the power to imbue centre, but who have the power to imbue Canadian Identity into their work.Canadian Identity into their work.

►Athletes Reflect Canadian IdentityAthletes Reflect Canadian Identity

Canada is known worldwide for its Canada is known worldwide for its hockey players. Canada is home to hockey players. Canada is home to some of the greatest hockey players some of the greatest hockey players ever and we continue to export ever and we continue to export players all over the world.players all over the world.

Besides hockey, Canada is known in Besides hockey, Canada is known in other sports as well.other sports as well.

►Canada has become a growing force in Canada has become a growing force in baseball as well.baseball as well.

►And basketball.And basketball.

►At one point, Canada had the world’s At one point, Canada had the world’s fastest man.fastest man.

►Canadians have done particularly well Canadians have done particularly well at both the Summer and Winter at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.Olympics.

►There are many Canadians playing There are many Canadians playing and coaching in many sports all and coaching in many sports all around the world.around the world.

►The Canadian work ethic has travelled The Canadian work ethic has travelled the globe and has an influence the globe and has an influence worldwide.worldwide.